Which is a recommended approach to critique with respect to safety?

• A. Focus on negatives only
• B. Capitalize on positives and improvements
• C. Ignore strengths
• D. Punish mistakes publicly

Answer: (B)

Critiquing with safety in mind centers on reinforcing what’s done well while guiding improvements. The best approach is to capitalize on positives and improvements: acknowledge what was done correctly and explain why it supports safety, then pair that with specific, actionable steps to enhance performance next time. This builds confidence, reinforces good habits, and encourages open reporting and continuous learning without fear. Focusing only on negatives can demotivate people and hide effective practices; ignoring strengths misses opportunities to strengthen safe behavior; and punishing mistakes publicly erodes trust and the safety culture. So emphasize what’s done right and clearly outline steps to improve.